Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas Highlights Record Volunteerism And Support For Hundreds Of Community Organizations

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Apr 04, 2016, 06:41 ET

RICHARDSON, Texas, April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 2015, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), the state's largest health insurer, collaborated with nearly 500 community organizations through employee volunteers and financial investments to help prevent and manage heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma and other ailments. As noted in the company's Social Responsibility Report (SRR), released today,

1,875 employees volunteered 33,201 hours in local communities throughout Texas, resulting in more than $101,000 in matching funds for 83 organizations – a new milestone for the company;
BCBSTX invested more than $1.8 million in 40 nonprofit partners in its Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF) initiative. HKHF, which teams with nonprofit organizations focused on nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments, has provided more than 13.2 million health and wellness services to children and their families in Texas since 2011.

"We have a responsibility to help improve the lives of those in our communities and foster a culture of giving back," said Bert Marshall, BCBSTX president. "It's a responsibility we take seriously, and it's woven into the fabric of who we are and what we do at BCBSTX. We work diligently to implement and support programs that make a meaningful impact, and empower our employees to put their time and talents to work for the good of others. Through these tremendous efforts, we strengthen our connections within our communities and are also better able to serve our members."

One of BCBSTX's signature investments, El Centro de Corazón's "Nutrición con Corazón" Program in Houston, focuses on two major public health issues, childhood obesity and diabetes. "This program, made possible through a grant awarded from BCBSTX's Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative, addresses childhood obesity prevention, diabetes management, nutrition, physical activity support and behavioral health services necessary to achieve health and wellness," said Marcie Mir, LCSW, El Centro de Corazón chief executive officer. "Through the Children's Wellness Program, El Centro aims to provide approximately 500 pediatric visits that support children and their families. BCBSTX's support of El Centro's Children Wellness Program indicates its recognition of the value to deliver high quality healthcare in the community."

As in past years, the 2015 report was produced digitally, reducing environmental impact and enabling a more dynamic presentation of community partnerships through videos and social media integration. Readers can instantly share and comment on a specific page of the report through Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter or email the entire report to family, friends and colleagues.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and healthcare practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

BCBSTX.com | Twitter.com/BCBSTX | Facebook.com/BlueCrossBlueShieldOfTexas | YouTube.com/BCBSTX

BCBSTX's Community Investments
BCBSTX is committed to helping improve the health and well-being of the communities that we serve. For more than 80 years, that commitment has been reflected through social responsibility efforts that include corporate giving, local community relations, volunteerism, diversity and inclusion, ethics and compliance, wellness and sustainability initiatives. Our signature program, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families ® has impacted millions of Texas children and their families through support in areas of nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. BCBSTX is also a 2014 Civic 50 honoree, a program which recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the country. To learn more about BCBSTX's social responsibility efforts, please visit http://bcbstx2015srr.com/

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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas